Improvement in padlocks



Emma JL 11 1871 rien.

PATET OSCAR D. MADGE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT `IN PADLOCKS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent N o. 116,972, dated July 1l,1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR D. MADGE, of Vashington, in the county ofWashington and District Y of Columbia, have invented a certainImprovement in Seal-Locks; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description thereof', reference being' had tothe annexed drawing making a part of this specification, in which-Figure l is a front elevation, showing` the boss on the end of thehinged guard-plate, as well as a portion of one of the sides of theseal-plate in section, to expose the spring-bolt in the former and theaperture in the latter for the reception of the projecting end of suchbolt. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a view ofthe key used in connection with this lock. Fig. 4 is a iont elevation ofthe lock on a reduced scale, and representing it partly in section toshow the construction of the upper edge of the case and of the shoulderon the hasp or staple. Fig. 5 is a side elevation drawn on the samescale as Fig. 4.

The same letters are used in all the figures in,

the designation'of identical parts.

This invention relates to that class of seal-locks in which the key-holeis covered with a sliding plate whichV carries a glass seal and isretained in place in such a manner that the seal must rst be brokenbefore the plate can be released and slid to expose the key-hole for thepurpose of opening the lock. My improvement consists in a peculiarconstruction of the shoulder on the staple or hasp, together with thatof the edgeplate of the case against which it abuts when locked, for thepurpose of more ei'ectually excludin g moisture and rain from theinterior mechanism of the lock.

B and B and provided with a spring, D1, by the action of which it isthrown open when its free end is released from the case. This plate iitssnugly between the bars of the escutcheon and terminates in atransverse. boss, D2, which, in shutting it down, closes up the space inthe escutcheon below the seal -plate C. In one end of this boss a holeis bored for the reception of a bolt, E, which, bearing with its headagainst a spiral spring, E', iu a cavity of the boss, projects a shortdistance through the latter, as seen in Fig. l. The projecting end ofthe bolt is bev.- eled on its under side at e to provide for itsautomatic retraction on being brought into contact with the bar B. Anaperture, b, is bored through this bar, into which the bolt is projectedby the reaction of the sprin gE/ in closing the guard-plate down. Thebolt can be retracted out of the aperture b to open the guard-plate bymeans of the point d on the bow ofthe key, but is efectually protectedagainst .accidental retraction during transit, in which respect it is anessential improvement over the manner heretofore employed of fasteningthe guard-plate. The top-edge plate A of the case is inclined towardeach end from the center of the aperture through which the staplepasses, and the shoulder of the staple abutting against this plate is ofA-shape at the surface of contact. The aperture does not extend entirelyacross the space between vthe back and face-plate of the case, but alittle metal is left on each side of it, which is beveled, as best seenin Fig. 5, forming shallow grooves, through which moisture or rainruiming down the sides of the staple or the plates of the case isconducted awayl from the aperture. These grooves are marked a; and itwill be observed, by reference to Fig. 5, that the shoulder F of thestaple is beveled at f j' to adapt it for entering said grooves.

The shoulder of the staple thus overhangs the aperture upon all sides,and, as the moisture falls upon inclined surfaces upon every side ofsuch aperture, it will be conducted away and not enter the interior ofthe lock-case.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

The plate A', which inclincs from the center of the aperture for thestaple toward each end invention I have hereunto signed my naine thisand has grooves a. a. at the sides of sueh apen 27 th day of May, A. D.1871, in presence of two ture7 in connection with a staple the shoulderssubscribing Witnesses.

Ff j' of which overhang the aperture upon every OSCAR D. MADGE. side,and are formed Substantially as described, Vitnesses: 2h11 for thepurposes set forth. JNO. JOY EDSON,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my CHS. I. VANNALL.

